PEX seems quieter overall, but if it’s not clipped down tight, it’ll slap against studs when the water shuts off. Learned that the hard way...
Ha, I’ve been there—my first attempt sounded like a haunted house every time someone flushed. Anyone try those eco-friendly pipe insulators? I’m curious if they help with both noise and heat loss or if that’s just marketing fluff.
Anyone try those eco-friendly pipe insulators? I’m curious if they help with both noise and heat loss or if that’s just marketing fluff.
Tried ‘em on a couple rental units. They’re decent for heat loss—pipes stay warmer, so less waiting for hot water. As for noise, eh, they help a bit but won’t stop PEX from smacking a stud if it’s loose. Best combo is clipping tight and using insulation, but don’t expect miracles on the noise front. At least you won’t be heating your crawlspace anymore…
Best combo is clipping tight and using insulation, but don’t expect miracles on the noise front. At least you won’t be heating your crawlspace anymore…
That’s pretty much my experience too. The eco-friendly stuff does a good job keeping the heat in—noticed my basement bathroom warms up faster and the pipes don’t sweat as much in summer. For noise, though, it’s more like “slightly muffled” than “problem solved.” If you’ve got loose PEX, nothing beats actually strapping it down.
One thing I ran into: some of the greener insulators are a bit stiffer or trickier to fit around elbows and T-joints. Anyone else have to mess with cutting and re-taping at the weird angles? I ended up using zip ties in a couple spots just to keep things from popping open.
Curious if anyone’s tried combining the eco wrap with the foil-faced stuff—like, does that help with radiant heat loss at all, or is it overkill?
I’ve run into the same thing with the eco wraps—those corners and T-joints are a pain. I usually end up making a bunch of little relief cuts, then patching it all together with foil tape. Not pretty, but it works. Zip ties are a solid move for keeping things from popping open, especially if you’re crawling around in tight spots.
On the foil-faced insulation: I tried doubling up once, thinking it’d help with radiant loss near an exterior wall. Honestly, didn’t notice much difference compared to just using one or the other. Maybe if your pipes are right up against a cold foundation wall, but otherwise it felt like overkill. The main win was just getting everything snug and sealed up.
One thing I always check is that nothing’s pressing too hard on the PEX—had a tenant call about a weird ticking noise once, turned out to be a zip tie cinched too tight at a bend. Lesson learned: snug, not strangled.
Those corners are the bane of my existence, honestly. I’ve tried every trick—relief cuts, foil tape, even a little bit of cursing under my breath. I’m with you on the zip ties, but yeah, gotta watch the tension. I’ve seen PEX get pinched so tight it started creaking like an old ship. Not fun tracking that down in a crawlspace. I’m not convinced doubling up on insulation does much either, unless you’re dealing with some serious cold spots. For me, it’s all about making sure nothing’s rubbing or getting squished—one weird noise and suddenly everyone thinks there’s a leak.